Leveling apparatus for steam-boilers



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. M. KRAMER.

LEVELING APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS.

Patented Apr. 13, '1886.

INVENTOR %m.%

ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES (No Model 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. M. KRAMER.

LEVELING APPARATUS FOR STEAM BOILERS. N0. 339,790.

Patented Apr. 13, 1886.

INVENTOR }m $5 BY ATTORNEYS.

WITNESSES M N, PETERS. Phowuuw nyhr, Washin ton. [1Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN M. KRAMER, or MARIA STEIN, OHIO.

LEVELiNG APPARATUS FOR STEAM-BOILERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 339,790, dated April13, 1886.

Application filed October 2, 1885. Serial No. 178,805. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN M. KRAMER, of Maria Stein, in the county ofMercer and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved LevelingApparatus for Locomotive Steam- Boilers, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description.

The object of my invention is to provide a new and improved apparatusfor leveling steam-boilers automatically. 1

The invention consists of a pendulum provided with arms which operatevalves, of a cylinder which is connected by a'pipe with thewater-compartment of the boiler, and of a device for regulating themovement of the pendulum.

The invention also consists in various parts and details hereinaftermore fully set forth and described.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part ofthis specification, in which similar letters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure l is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improvementattached to a portable boiler standing on a level. Fig. 2 is a similarview of my improvement attached to a portable boiler passing down anincline. Fig. 3 is a like view of my improvement attached to aportableboiler going up an incline. Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation of amodification of the pendulum-regulating device. Fig. 5 is a sectionalside elevation showing the mount ing of the pendulum; and Figs. 6 and 7are detail sectional views showing the position of the valves in thepipes.

The boiler A, of usual construction, is provided on one end with one ortwo cylinders, B, having a piston, C, to which is attached a piston-rod,D. The lower end of the pistonrod D is provided with a roller, D, whichrests on a guide, E, attached to the bolsterE of the truck of theboiler. The front end of the boiler A is thereby supported on the fixedpiston O. The upper end of the cylinder B, above the piston O, connects,by the pipe F, with the water-compartment of the boiler A, and anotherpipe, G, which leads from the upper end of the cylinder B to the openair, but may lead to a tank or other suitable receptacle or to a pumpwhich connects with the boiler. The pipes F and G are each provided witha valve, F or G, respectively.

The pendulum H is mounted on the top of the boiler A, preferably in themanner as shown in Fig. 5. The pendulum hangs free on the sideof theboiler A, and is provided with a slot, H. To the pendulum H arepivotally attached and adjustable in the slot H the arms I andl, whichconnect with the levers J and J, operating the valves F and G,respectively. The upper end of the pendulum H is also provided with arigid arm, K, to the outer end of which is pivotally attached thepiston-rod L, provided with the piston M, working in the small cylinderN, fastened in any suitable manner to the boiler A, and filled above andbelow the piston M with either oil, air, water, or other suitablesubstance. The upper and lower ends of the cylinder N are connected witheach other by the pipe 0, provided with a valve or cook, P.

A communication between the upper and lower ends of the cylinder N canbe established in the manner shown in Fig. 4, in which the piston-rod Lis hollow and provided with the transverse opening L above the piston M,and an adjustable rod or plunger, Q, placed in the hollow piston-rod L,serves to close or open the transverse openings L, thereby connecting ordisconnecting the upper and lower ends of the cylinder N, and alsoregulating the flow of the substance in thecylinder N from one end tothe other when the piston M is raised or depressed.

It will be understood that the apparatus above described is to be usedwith boilers of traction or road engines, railroadlocomotives, ships,and with all boilers that will from time to time change their positionfrom a horizontal plane. Its utility on road-engines is that it willkeep the boiler in a horizontal position when the engine is going up anddown hill, and the same action is produced in the case oflocomotive-boilers, where the engine has to travel over roads that crossmountains and hills, and on ships when rising and falling with thewaves. By keeping the boilerlevel the lines and fire-box are preventedfrom burning.

It has been found in practice that the great drawback to the use ofsteam-engines on ordinary roads is that the boiler burns out so soon, asthe waterleavcs one end or the other in passing over hilly ground, andthe burning of the boiler ensues.

The operation of my improved leveling apparatus is as follows: When theboiler A isin the normal horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, thevalves F and G are both closed and the cylinders B are filled with waterabove the piston O, which is then in a midway-position. When the truckpasses downan incline, as shown in Fig. 2, the pendulum H assumes aninclined position to the center line of the boiler A and swings to theright, thereby opening the valve F by means of the arm I and the leverJ, so as to admit water under pressure in the boiler from the same intothe cylinder B by means of the pipe F, and thereby forcing the cylinderB and the front end of the boiler E upward, (the boiler being adapted tomove vertically on its rear axle as a pivot,) until the pendulum and theboiler are again in the normal position and the valve F is again closed.During the time that the valve F is opened and closed again the valve Gremains closed, although moving. As soon as the truck reaches ahorizontal position again, the pendulum H swings to the left, wherebythe valve G is opened, and the water which had been admitted into thecylinder B is forced out of the same through the pipe G until the pistonreaches its normal position (shown in Fig. 1) and the pendulum also hasreturned to its normal position and has closed both of the valves F andG. When the truck passes up an incline, as shown in Fig. 3, the pendulumswings to the left, thereby opening the valve G by means of the arm Iand the lever J. The weight of the front end of the boiler causes thewater above the piston G to flow out by means of the pipe G and the openvalve G, so that the boiler with itsfront end swings downward until thependulum and the boiler are again in the normal position and the valvecloses,while the valve F comes back to its normal position. When thetruck reaches a horizontal position, the pendulum H is swung to theright so as to open thevalve F, and thereby admit water under pressurefrom the boiler to force the piston O in the cylinder B downward untilit reaches its normal position, (shown in Fig. 1,) and .at the same timethe pendulum will assume the normal position and close both valves. Fand G.

It will be seen by reference to Figs. 6 and 7 that the valves F and Gare so arranged that when the arms I and I move in the direction of thearrow a the valve F is opened, while the valve G remains closed,although moving, and when the arms I and I move in the direction of thearrow b the valve G is opened and the valve F remains closed, al-

. though moving. 6o

It will be seen that as the pendulumH as sumes a vertical position whilethe boiler A is inclined the piston M changes its position in thecylinder N, which change is regulated by the speed with which thesubstance in the cylinder N flows from one end of the cylinder N to theother by means of the connectingpipe 0 and the valve 1?. If the valve Pis between the ends of the cylinder N, then the piston M and thependulum H are prevented 715 from moving.

I may use one cylinder B on 'each side of the boiler A, in which casethe shaft onwhich the pendulum H is hung is extended to the other sideof the boiler and provided with an arm, to which similar arms, as thearm I and I, are attached. The other arrangements, with the cylinderbeing the same as those shown in the drawings, an independent pendulumon each side with like arrangements on both sides'may also be used. Anysuitabledevice for compensating for leakage in'the cylinder N may beused. I The apparatus can be attachedtostationlty, marine, or any otherboiler.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters 1 Patent, is-

1. In an apparatus for leveling boilers, the

pendulum H, the arms land I, the levers J and J, the pipes F and G, andthe valves!" and G, in combination with the boiler A, the

cylinder B, the piston O, and the pistou red I), resting on the bolsterE of the truck-trim,

substantially as shown and described.

2. In an apparatus for leveling boilers, the boiler A, provided with acylinder, B, the piston C, and the piston-rod D, resting on the bolsterE of the truck-frame, in combination with the pendulum H, operating thevalve F; attached to the pipe F, which connects the. cylinder B with thewater-compartment of the boiler A, substantially as shown and.described. a i

3. In an apparatus for leveling boilers, the boiler A, provided with acylinder, ,3, the piston C, and the piston-rod D, resting on the bolster'E of the truck-frame, in combination with the pendulum H, operating thevalve G, attached to the pipe G, which leads to the upper end of thecylinder B, tially as shown and described.

4. In an apparatus for leveling boilers, the pendulum H, having the armK, in combination with the cylinder N, the piston M, the piston-rod L,and a device for connecting the subetnnupper and lower ends of the saidcylinder H,

rod L, the piston M, the cylinder N, and a device for connecting theends of the cylinder N, as described, all arranged substantially asspecified.

1 JOHN M. KRAMER;

Witnesses:

HENRY KRAMER, JOSEPH J Rnronnnr.

